Billie G. Mccullough

Billie G. McCullough of Waco passed away Friday, January 4, 2008 at Providence Hospital. Services will be at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Father Chip Harper officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. He will lie in state beginning at 12 noon Monday, January 7, 2008 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Billie was born October 25, 1924 in Muskogee, OK to Elmo Weeks McCullough and Esther McCullough. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his eighteenth birthday in 1942, hoping to become a naval aviator. His brother, Jack, had survived the Pearl Harbor attack on the U.S.S. Maryland. He completed his training, received his aviator’s wings, and awaited deployment in San Diego, CA, in 1945; however, Billie’s unit was decommissioned after the bombing of Hiroshima. He later served in Guam, the Philippines and the Korean War. He remained in the Naval Reserves for many years. He was educated at Kansas University. He met his wife, Shirley, during his senior year of pharmacy school and they were married November 22, 1949. He graduated in June, 1950 and became a registered pharmacist. Their son, David, was born November 18, 1950 and they settled in Coffeyville, KS after his tour of duty in the Korean War. Billie became a drug salesman for Eli Lily in 1955. Their son, Steven was born February 9, 1956 in Coffeyville. A desire for a warmer climate and Shirley’s desire to obtain her Bachelor and Master Degrees in music from Baylor brought the family to Waco in 1962. He began his career as a pharmacist with Providence Hospital in 1967. He was named as Providence Hospital’s Employee of the Year in 1984. Billie continued to work one day per week until his death. Billie loved classical music, reading and football. He enjoyed studying the stock market and investing. He loved to watch the History Channel and the Military Channel. Billie approached aging with dignity and grace, and kept an optimistic and positive outlook on life. He maintained his independence until his death. Shirley died in 1976 after a short battle with cancer. His friends and co-workers at Providence became his extended family. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Kimberly Garcia for her friendship to Billie. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Shirley Ann McCullough and brother Jack McCullough. Billie is survived by sons David McCullough and wife Jean, of Jonestown; and Steven F. McCullough and wife Debra, of San Antonio; grandchildren Morgan, Stephanie, and Allison McCullough; sister Anita Rosaker, and brothers: Joe McCullough and John McCullough. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Providence Hospital Foundation. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.